# Man charged after MP Helen Haines attacked in Victoria

> A 43-year-old man has been charged after independent MP Helen Haines was hit by a car outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, leaving her with critical injuries.
- Title: Man charged after MP Helen Haines attacked in Victoria · Abc
- Summary: A 43-year-old man has been charged after independent MP Helen Haines was hit by a car outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, leaving her with critical…
- Keywords: breaking, helen haines, brendan nugent, wangaratta, victoria, attack, dangerous driving, commonwealth public official, news, politics, Man, charged
- Source: Abc — https://abc.net.au/news/2026-10-20/live-blog-victoria-indi-mp-helen-haines-attacked-wangaratta/107285252
- Published: 2026-10-19T18:31:29+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: breaking, helen haines, brendan nugent, wangaratta, victoria, attack, dangerous driving, commonwealth public official, news, politics
## MP hit by car outside office
Independent MP Helen Haines was hit by a Toyota LandCruiser outside her electorate office in Wangaratta.She has lost a leg and doctors are fighting to save the other.
## Man charged with multiple offences
Brendan Nugent, forty three, has been charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and the federal offence of causing harm to a Commonwealth public official.
## Attack was targeted, police allege
Police allege the incident was targeted.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the attack was deliberate and early investigations suggest the car did a U-turn.
## Good Samaritan stopped the driver
Barber Ricky Jefferies stepped in to help Ms Haines after the attack. He says the man had a knife and he intervened to ensure no-one else was hurt. He held the driver until police arrived.
## Mental health assessment and political response
Sources confirm Brendan Nugent has undergone a mental health assessment while in custody.His family say they have been friends with Helen Haines for more than twenty years.
## Key takeaway

Brendan Nugent, forty three, was charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury and harming a Commonwealth public official after attacking independent MP Helen Haines in Wangaratta.